Most homeowners hire an interior designer after their architect finishes drawings, sometimes after framing is already complete. It feels logical. The architect handles the structure, then the designer handles the inside. But this sequence creates a problem: by the time an interior designer walks into a
new construction project, hundreds of decisions that directly affect the interior have already been locked in.
At Living With Lolo, we work with architects on ground-up custom homes from the start of the design development phase. This is how we do it, why it matters, and what our clients get as a result.
Why the Sequence Matters More Than You Think
Interior design decisions are baked into the architecture of a home long before anyone picks a sofa. Ceiling heights, window placement, door swing directions, the location of electrical panels, natural light paths, and traffic flow between rooms are all architectural choices that either support or fight the interior design you want.
When Living With Lolo joins a new construction project during design development, we sit at the table with the architect before those decisions are finalized. That means:
- Window placement is coordinated with furniture layouts so seating faces views, not walls.
- Ceiling details like coffers, beams, and tray ceilings are planned in context of the room's furniture scale.
- Lighting rough-in locations are placed where fixtures actually belong, not where the electrician estimated.
- Niche and built-in locations are framed into the structure from the start, not cut in after the fact.
- Room dimensions get a second review for how real furniture will actually live in the space.
The result is a home where the architecture and the interior design feel like one continuous intention rather than two separate projects that happened to end up in the same building.
What Our Role Looks Like on a New Construction Project
Living With Lolo holds a
General Contractor license in Arizona (ROC #347577), which means we can coordinate directly with the construction team, pull permits where needed, and act as a bridge between the design and build sides of a project. On new construction, this matters.
Phase 1: Design Development (Months 1-3)
We review architectural drawings and flag interior design considerations before they get value-engineered away. This includes reviewing floor plans for furniture feasibility, evaluating window-to-wall ratios for art and case goods, and identifying rooms where structural elements like fireplaces, built-ins, or wet bars will drive finish coordination later.
Phase 2: Construction Documents (Months 3-5)
We develop an interior specifications package that travels alongside the architectural set. This covers finish schedules (flooring, tile, stone, millwork), fixture specifications, plumbing fixture rough-in heights, hardware standards, and custom millwork drawings. The contractor bids this package rather than making substitutions in the field.
Phase 3: Construction Administration (Months 5-14+)
We make regular site visits to catch deviations, approve substitutions, and resolve field conditions before they become expensive change orders. New construction timelines in the Scottsdale custom home market typically run 12 to 18 months for homes in the 4,000 to 8,000 square foot range. Our involvement through this phase ensures the interior specifications are executed correctly, not approximately.
Phase 4: Furnishing and Installation
Once the home is complete, we coordinate full furnishing including furniture, lighting, window treatments, art, accessories, and plants. For new construction clients, this typically represents a furnishing investment starting at $150,000 for a home in this size range, depending on scope and custom specification levels.
The New Builds We Work On
Living With Lolo's new construction interior design work is concentrated in the Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and north Phoenix markets. We work primarily on:
- Custom spec homes built by high-end developers
- Owner-commissioned ground-up custom homes (typically 4,000 sq ft and above)
- Architect-designed homes where the client brings us in as the interior design partner
- Partial new construction combined with additions on existing properties
Our clients for new construction projects are typically in a $1.5 million to $5 million or more total project budget range, where the investment in integrated interior design from the start is a fraction of what it saves in change orders, field corrections, and retrofits.
What Happens When You Don't Bring in an Interior Designer Early
We have also been brought in after the fact on new construction projects, and we can tell you what that looks like. The most common issues we find:
The primary living area has been framed with a furniture layout that puts the sofa against the only wall without natural light. The kitchen island was placed without considering where bar stools would go relative to the traffic path. Recessed lights are in a 4-foot grid regardless of what furniture sits below them. The primary bath has a freestanding tub centered under a window that faces a neighbor. Built-in locations were not framed, so they now require bulkheads that eat into ceiling height.
None of these are unfixable. But they are all expensive to address after the fact, and some are permanent trade-offs the homeowner has to live with for the life of the house.
Working With Your Architect
If you are already working with an architect, bringing Living With Lolo in as your interior design partner is straightforward. We work with most of the established residential architects in the Scottsdale and Paradise Valley markets and have working relationships that make this coordination efficient.
If you are still selecting an architect, we are happy to make introductions to firms whose design sensibilities and communication styles align with what we deliver on the interior.
Ready to Talk About Your New Build?
Living With Lolo takes a limited number of new construction projects each year. We partner with architects on ground-up custom homes in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and north Phoenix from design development through final furnishing.
Book a Discovery CallFrequently Asked Questions
When is the right time to bring an interior designer into a new construction project?
The ideal time is during design development, before architectural drawings are finalized. This allows the interior designer to influence window placement, ceiling details, lighting rough-in, and room proportions before they are locked into the construction documents.
Does Living With Lolo work with homeowners who already have an architect?
Yes. Living With Lolo regularly joins new construction projects where an architect is already engaged. We work alongside the architect as the interior design partner, coordinating our specifications package with the architectural set.
What does new construction interior design cost in Scottsdale?
Interior design fees for new construction at Living With Lolo are based on the scope and square footage of the project. For a custom home in the 4,000 to 8,000 square foot range, most clients invest $50,000 to $150,000 or more in interior design fees, separate from furnishings and finishes.
Does Living With Lolo handle both the design and the furnishing for new builds?
Yes. For new construction clients, Living With Lolo manages the complete interior from specifications through final furnishing installation. This includes all finish selections, custom millwork, plumbing and lighting fixtures, furniture, window treatments, art, and accessories.
Is Living With Lolo a licensed contractor?
Yes. Living With Lolo holds Arizona General Contractor license ROC #347577, which allows us to coordinate directly with construction teams, pull permits where required, and manage contractor relationships on renovation and new construction projects.
Lauren Lerner
Principal Designer, Living with Lolo
Lauren Lerner is a luxury interior designer and licensed general contractor based in Scottsdale, AZ and the founder of Living with Lolo. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Vogue, Martha Stewart Living, The Wall Street Journal, and GQ. She specializes in high-end residential design and design-build projects across Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and the greater Phoenix metro area.
